Troian Bellisario and Lily Collins have much more in common than just starring in films about eating disorders — they actually both had eating disorders in their youth and know exactly what it’s like to live with an illness like that.

In a recent Tumblr Post-It Forward Q&A, Troian opened up about watching Lily in To The Bone and how it compares to her own movie, Feed.

“I watched To the Bone and was blown away by Lily Collins’ work, and Marti Noxon’s direction and writing,” she shared, and also admitted that she was triggered by it.

“I also don’t think you can watch something for 2 hours that you have such a close relationship with and intense past with and not be triggered,” she explains.

Troian goes on to say that both of the films are bringing awareness to mental illness and eating disorders, and that’s exactly the point — to start a conversation.

“I think [the films] are doing a service because they are creating a space for people to talk about their struggles,” she says. “A space to share how they feel, how they pulled themselves out of a dark space, how they finally found their way to treatment, and also what helps when they feel triggered or feel like engaging with it again.”

Troian adds, “So that those people who are fighting with their ED’s can see a way out, perhaps they can get inspired to seek help.”